Supervisors in the former township of Lycoming this week fielded a cavalcade of questions from residents about steps being taken to regionalize law enforcement coverage.

Supervisors recently appointed Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department Chief Nathan Deremer as acting police chief and have since 2019 explored the potential benefits of resource sharing.

Residents had many questions at the previous meeting in early March, after which some received cease and desist letters, which rubbed those who received them the wrong way and brought allegations of supervisors infringing on the right to freedom of expression.

“That Wasn’t All” Old Lycoming Township Supervisor Linda Mazzullo said of the letters sent to some residents. “It was to tell them that we expect proper decorum, not people shouting, clapping, talking to each other, but being respectful to the oversight board.

“They don’t have to be for regionalization or the acting police chief, they just have to be courteous.”

The meeting, though emotionally charged, ended with supervisors promising an open and transparent process to determine what is best in terms of police coverage in the township going forward.

It was not without drama, however, as Mazzullo and supervisors Sam Aungst and Dave Shirn held their regular Tuesday meeting, conducting business that drew applause, such as the approval of a store plot development. Aldi on Lycoming Creek Road.

Emotions were strong

The small township building was completely packed, with some locals pouring out the front door and others standing, some of them lined up along the wall with every seat taken – awaiting the discussion over the acting leader .

The proposed plan which was explained by the supervisors is a work in progress.

“Give Us a Chance” Mazzullo said, adding that supervisors need to gather data, such as financial and logistical information from collective bargaining units in both departments and watch how it’s doing this spring and summer under Deremer’s leadership.

Aungst reviewed a timeline of actions taken so far.

To provide as much information as possible to people, the Supervisors as Board said they will hold a special meeting in late August or early September to answer questions, which will allow for feedback and to see if a more regional policing will work for the taxpayers in the long run.

“We want to do what is best for the municipality and its taxpayers”, Mazzullo said she prays daily for the safety of citizens and police officers.

Another factor in play, based on a regional police study, is the potential cost to neighboring townships to the north, such as Lycoming and Hepburn townships. These costs may be too prohibitive and could result in a tax mile increase of 3 mills for residents of these townships, according to the study, according to Hepburn Township Supervisor Heath Heller, who was present.

The townships of Hepburn and Lycoming have signed an additional one-year contract for police coverage provided by the old township of Lycoming, which has been providing these townships with police coverage since 2020. The price is up to $105,000 each to cover a agent and benefits, Mazzullo said.

“They signed a one-year contract because they want to see if we regionalize and hope that if we do, the cost will come down,” she says.

Those costs cannot be determined until the township reviews pensions, wages and health care, she said.

Soothe the burn

On the biggest sore point, the cease and desist letters, residents have been told by the law firm representing the supervisors of Old Lycoming Township that these letters sent to some residents who have taken the floor at the march supervisors meeting were sent to the wrong people and an overrun.

The cease-and-desist letters further clouded a situation that aimed to provide residents with more safety, security and more police-detectives every day.

Former Lycoming County Judge Marc Lovecchio, now an attorney with McCormick Law, said he fully understands, based on statements at the meeting and his perception of what happened, of the outcry. by receiving the letters.

Some said they were told they were guilty by association, and Lovecchio said the letters sent the wrong message, especially to residents who were simply asking their elected officials questions.

Lovecchio apologized to those who received the letters, including Tim Shumbat, who is blind and has dedicated 50 years of his life to serving the township through the fire company and other ways regarding the law enforcement and emergency medical services.

Shumbat said he was “disgusted” upon receiving a letter and said the letter was an attempt by supervisors to infringe on citizens’ First Amendment rights.

Shumbat was not supposed to receive a letter.

“It was sent to him by mistake”, Mazzullo said in an interview.

Deremer was also at the meeting and listened.

For the most part, he frequently nodded in approval to residents’ questions and concerns, at one point when someone said he might not be the right choice to lead the township law enforcement division, shrugged and nodded affirmatively.

It was clarified that supervisors did not violate the Sunshine Act, as the draft master plan was voted on in what was legally a public meeting on March 8. At this meeting, the supervisors voted on what was described as a memorandum of understanding for Deremer. services which began on March 1 and continued until December 31 this year. Mazzullo and Aungst were in favor while Shirn voted against.

Supervisors said they advertised the chief job and received 10 resumes from people interested in the law enforcement chief job. Sun-Gazette has learned they include some retired state police and other experienced candidates.

“If that doesn’t work and the township doesn’t regionalize, the supervisors will review those requests,” said Mazzullo.

Supervisors picked Deremer, who has six years as chief of the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department in the Jersey Shore area with more than 12 employees, as the right person who qualified to become acting police chief. in old Lycoming Township.

Still, the changing of the guard and tradition as the township explores regionalizing its force has troubled retired township officer Robert Burns. Burns started working in 1974 and retired as a sergeant.

“This department needs a full-time chief now, not later,” he said.

Mazzullo said these are legitimate issues that will be explored.

“Regionalization could end up saving another $50,000, with half the salary and benefits of a new police chief, if one had to be hired,” she says.

Regionalization could also provide up to 22 officers for additional resident protection and services, she said.

“Their department has 12 officers, and the township has, I believe, eight officers,” she says. “It will be up to 22 officers combined who, if decided, will police the new regionalization area,” she says.

Another benefit is regionalization, police officers from the former Lycoming Township will work in the township building as they currently do on Green Avenue.

“We have no idea if this will work” Mazzullo recognized.

Mazzullo encouraged those present and at home to wait for data – such as performance, collective bargaining unit information on pensions and benefits and other factors – to be calculated and presented during the meeting in the largest hall in the fall.

Temporary work is not synonymous with part-time work.

Mazzullo said it had been a challenge and heard five officers would resign if the regionalization process did not move forward.

“We have four to five people who said they would leave if the township did not work on regionalization,” she says.

An officer from the former township of Lycoming assured residents that police would respond as they always have with no questions asked no matter what is decided.

Potential benefits

Shared services and resources will ultimately save money, Mazzullo said.

For example, if someone is injured or off work, rather than overtime, other agents can be used to reduce overtime costs.

Two officers were on standby outside the meeting room due to last month’s meeting which had some out of control moments and required the caution.

Residents subsequently outside, including those who banded together to get questions answered, said they just wanted to voice their opinions without receiving mail, and learn more about the process of possible regionalization of the department in the future.

In short, the canton effectively began the process of regionalization three years ago, according to Mazzullo.

Former Lycoming Old Township Police Chief Chris Kriner returned to his position as Detective Sergeant at her request, she said.

The township advertised the police chief position outside the department because most officers were new to the force and others were of retirement age, Mazzullo said.

Costs are rising and the township recently increased the tax mile by 1 million, she said.

Mazzullo noted that what Heller and others have expressed as concerns are also their concerns at Old Lycoming Township.

Nationwide, the regionalization of police and fire departments is a trend encouraged by state officials such as the Department of Community and Economic Development, which provides grants to communities and other agencies that see mutual benefits to bring additional resources, sharing service and providing greater coverage.

“We’re trying to do what’s best for taxpayers, while keeping our police department intact to provide the same police coverage and safety for residents who deserve it,” said Mazzullo.